Pulp-molding machine



19 Much 27. F. FOY

PULP HOLDING MACHINE 3 sheets-sum 1 Filed Oct. 6. 1925 A i l Jifarn F. FOY

PULP MOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. e) 1925 SShoots-Shut 2 Fig.2

v3 n u f? March 9 F. FOY

PU-LP MOLDING momma 3 Shoots-Shoot :5

Filed Oct. 6. 1925 Fig. :a' Fig. \5 n I za z/l /enfaf' 22m f Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

FERNAND FOY, OF GEN'IILLY, FRANCE.

ronr-iuonnme MACHINE.

Application filed October 6, 1925, Serial No. 60,801, and in France October 15, 1924.

My invention relates to the molding of hollow or relief objects which are made of paper pulp. 1

If or the proper'un' derstanding of the invention, there is appended to the present description, and solely by way of example, a

diagrammatic drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of an embodiment of the said invention employed in the case of an object which is readily removed from the mold, such as a mask.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine showing the means for holding the mold and for pressingthe object.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the means for pressing the object.

Fig. 4 is a fragniental plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view on a smaller scale of an embodiment of the invention em ployed for hollow objects having reliefparts, and for the molding of which a mold in two or more parts is utilized.

Figs. 6 and 7 show two pressing devices.

Fig. 8 is a view of a molded object having concave portions.

Figs. 9 and 10 show vertical sections of a mask and a round box arranged for the compression operation, the molding being performed by the use of a layer of paper pulp upon the outer surface of the mold.

Figs. 11 to 14 show special means for reducing the amount of mercury used.

In the said figures, 1 is the vat containing edge two members 2 supporting the pivot axle .of two forks 3 whereof each is provided The ends 10 and 11 of the hollow shaft- 6 res ectively communicate, by means of flexib e hose, with a vacuum pump and with a .compressed air conduit. The device consisting of the hollow shaft 6', the cock 7, the receptacle 8 and the mold 9 is rotatable as a unit in the bearings 4. One of the said the paper pulp, and it carries upon its rear' forks carries a controlling lever 12 for swinging the said unit into the vat 1 or for bringing it out of the vat into contact with an abutment 13.

joint and pierced with an aperture 18 for the introduction of the paper pulp.

These two devices constltute the moldingmachine.

In order to mold an object, with the apparatus resting against its abutment 13 (Fig. 1), the control lever 12 is raised so as to immerse the mold in the paper pulp in vat 1, the movable unit now occupying the position shown at A in Fig. 1. The cock 7 is turned .so as to connect the interior of the box 8 with the vacuum pump through the hose 10, and this causes the paper pulp to adhere to the walls of the mold which are traversed by the water. .When the thickness of the paper pulp is sufficient, the movable unit is raised by the lever 12 into the original position shown in Fig. 1.

The ob 'ects which are thus molded are very spongy and contain a large amount of water, so that to render them suitable for the subsequent finishing operations such as painting and decoration, it becomes necessary to dry them. This operation is ordinarily performed in thc'openair, or within heated and ventilated drying chambers; it is expensive in the latter case and lengthy in the former. Since the molding operation is a very rapid one, a considerable operating space must be provided.

To obviate this drawback, the said object is compressed as highly as may be desired, by the use of mercury which is heated and is placed under pressure. Due to this pressure, the water in the object will be expelled and will be discharged from the said object and the mold under the double action of the pressure on one side and the vacuum on the other. The heat afforded by the heated mercury will further the drying, so that an oband a reduced thickness. To performthe the object, the mold said operations of compressing and drying is held in place and the pressure is then caused to act. To thus hold the said mold for compression purposes,

have disposed on one side of the machine a frame 19 which is provided at thejtop with an arm 20 rotatable in the horizontal plane upon a pivot 21; said arm carries two tappets 22 each of which can be adjusted by a handle 23. The lower part of said frame carries a pump barrel24 in which is engaged apiston 25 carrying at its top a table or disk 26 which is connected thereto by a ball and socket joint 27; 'the pump being of the double-acting or other suitable type.

The said pump barrel'is connected through an orifice 28 with the conduit supplying the water, steam, compressed air, etc., w ich op- For the compression and the drying of the object, I have disposed behind the machine a receptacle 29 consistingvof cylinders with a common bottom part. The cylinder containing mercury in a quantity which exceeds the volume of the internal space within the object to be subjected to pressure, is in communication, through the hose 30, with the interior of the mold 9 by means of a conduit 31 formed within the bearings 36 wherein is disk 26.

The outer cylinder contains a coil or worm 32 which is connected with a steam or hot water sup ly, whereby themer'cury will be heated. ther heating means may be employed such as gas, electricity, gasoline, etc.,

and the present "device is given solely by way of example.

The receptacle- 29 is provided with a T shaped arm 33 slidable in a slot 34 which is formed in the frame 35 supporting the same. The said frame carries at the upper part two journaled the shaft 37 which ends in a crank 38 and upon which is mounted a grooved pulley co-operating with a chain 39 Which is attached at one-end 29 and'at the other to a 40 balancing the whole device.

41 is a 'pipefor the dis'chargeof air which is connected witha conduit supplying water, 'steam or air under pressure, by a two-way 42is afilling plug. 43 is. an emptying plug.

two concentric object must be removed from the mold.

To hold the said mold in position, I bring the arm 20 above the box 8 by rotating it horizontally on its axle 21, and then operate the two handles 23 so as to bring the tappets 22 against the box; disk26 by acting'upon the said piston until it tightly closes the top of the box, and for this purpose a suitable packing member is placed upon the said disk; in this manner the whole device is held quite securely.

For the compression and the drying of the.

object, I introduce mercury which can rise at this time I raise the I in a natural manner since the cock 7 is always connected with the vacuum. pump whereby a vacuum will prevail in box 8. But the operation is furthered by raising the vessel 29 containing the heated mercury by turning the crank 38 until the mercury has filled the said .mold.

Since the mercury is heated, there will be produced a compression of the pulp upon the walls of the mold, as well'as a drying of the said object. This compression may e made'variable by raising the vessel 29 to a suitable height, but I prefer to act upon the upper surface of the mercury by the external ressure of water, steam, compressed gas, or't e like. The pressure may also be obtained by means of the device shown in Fig. 7, in which I still employ the vessel 29, which now contains an expansible pocket 44 connected with a source of pressure by a three way cock 45.

To press-the object contained in the mold, I introduce mercury into the said mold by opening the cock source of pressure;

the pocket 44 will be distended, thereby driving the mercury into the mold and compressing the said object. By turning the cock 45 into the proper position, the.pressure will fall, and the mercury returns to the vessel 29.

After the said operation is completed, Ithe or this purpose the vessel 29 is lowered into its original position in order to entirely discharge the mercury, and the mold is released by lowering the disk 26 and bringing the arm 20 outside the box; when the said arm is thus released, I close the suction conduit and open the compression conduit by operating the cock 7, so that the compressed air wlll strip ofi the molded object.

For the molding of hollow objects which ofier portions in high relief, I proceed in the first place according to the aforesaid process 45 connected with the relative to the molding-of objects which can be readily removed.

But for the removal of the objects from the mold, it-is necessary toremove the sa1 mold from the box, to open the mold and to take out the said object by hand, so that the compressed air utilized in the preceding case need not be herein empl oyed. For certain objects having rounded or horizontal or oblique position.

stated, but it may happen that the mercury which has penetrated throughout after it has been introduced, will still remain, when .it is to be discharged into its containing vessel,

.in the lower parts such as 46 (Fig. 8). v To cause the mercury to return to the said vessel, the disk26 is inclined in the proper direction, and it .is for this purpose that the said .disk is mounted on the ball-and-socket joint 27. Level-indicating means provided on the said vessel will show that the'mercury has beenentirely returned'to the vessel. In the case of Fig. 5 it is not necessary to compress the object upon the mold which has been employed for the molding of the same.

The said mold may be removed from the box and placed upon a suitable press carry ing the frame of the double box, and the compression may be effected as above indicated, thus disengaging the "molding machine which is now ready for a second operation; herein the water is discharged at the lower part. I may further remove the object from the mold and then place it in a like mold which however is notperforated and is not provided with a wire gauze member, the compressing operation being performed as above stated.

Since the pressure may be as high as desired, all the details of the said object will be properly broughtout.

In-the present examples illustrative of the invention, the said mold has been arranged so that the paper. pulp will be placed upon the inner wall, but I may also dispose the mold so that the pulp will be placed upon the outer wall. This arrangement is shown inFigs. 9 and 10. When the molding operation is thus performed, the compression is applied at the exterior.

In'the present exam les, the molding is carried out with one ob ect at a time, but I may dispose any suitable number of molds in the box 8, and in this case the disk 26 which closes the bottom of the molds will comprise a suitable'number of mercury inlet: orifices corresponding to the number of molds and of, ob'ects'to be compressed.

The aforesai operations may be performed by the use of all known mechanical means, and automatic means may also be provided.

The compressing operation may-be performed by admittmg the mercury into the upper part of the object, the whole being then inverted to discharge the mercury. I may also place the said mold in any other I provide a complete interlocking system whereby all impropermovements will be obviated, and I also provide various safety devices; these are not shown in the drawings, but they are employed in the practical utilization of the said process.

The aforesaid apparatus may have any desired size and shape corresponding to the objects to be manufactured. I

For the pressing of bulky objects, and in vorderto diminish the amount of mercury in use, I vmay dispose in the space which is'to contain the mercury a body of simple form which leaves between the two Walls only the space which is necessary for the circulation of the mercury whereby the molded object will be suitably compressed.

A body of this kind is shown at 53 in Fig. 11 and at 52 in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

I may take advantage of this arrangement .in .order to produce the necessary pressure within the mold itself. To this end, the

body'52 or 53 is replaced by a pocket which can be expanded by suitable means, it being held in place by a perforated metallic sup-- I port.

The mercury is first introduced in sufficient quantity in order that when it is compressed upon the whole surface of the said object, it will have the form of a thin layer, so that the expansible pocket will not enter into. contact with the walls of the.

object ;the supply of mercury is now out off, and the said pocket is distended at the required pressure, the said presure bein imparted to the walls of the object which is thus given any desired compression.

A constructional form of the said device is shown in Fig. 6 wherein 8 is the box carrying the mold which communicates through the cock 7 with the vacuum pump.

' 9 is the perforated mold covered by the wire gauze member and by the object to be molded.

47 is the perforated frame which is covered by the expansible pocket.

48 and 49 are respectively orifices for the objects made of any desired material, and in like manner the mercury may be replacedbya suitable liquid. I

I claim as my invention 1. A molding machine, comprisin a pressembodying a movable table adapted to support a mold thereon and provided with a conduit which opens into the interior of the mold; means coo erativewith the mold to press the same. orcibly again'st said table under the action of the press ;and means for forcing a a port a mold thereon and provided with a the interior of the ed to support a mold thereon and latter is raised;

heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit tov shape and dry an article in said mold.

2. A molding machine, comprising a press embodying a plunger and a table having a.

ball-and-socket mounting on the outer en thereof, said table adapted to support a mold thereon and provided with a conduit which opens into the interior ofthe mold;

means cooperative with the mold to press the same forcibly against the table under the action of said piston; and means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit to shape and dry an article in said mold.

3. A molding machine, comprising a press embodying a movable table adapted to supconduit which opens into mold; means cooperative with the mold to press the same forcibly against said table under the action of the press; means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit to shape and dry an article in said mold; and a member disposed upon said table within the confines of the mold to reduce the volume of the fluid body employed.

4. A molding machine, comprising a press embodying a movable table adapted to support a mold thereon and provided with a conduit which opens into the interior of the mold; means cooperative with the mold to press the same forcibly against said table under the action of the press; means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit to shape and dry an article in said mold; an expansible member disposed within the confines of the mold; and means to expand saidmember and thereby reduce the volume of the fluid body empoyed.

5. A molding machine, comprising a press embodying a vertically movable table adaptprovided With'a conduit which opens into the. interior of the mold; a rotary arm movable into position to overlie the mold and thereby press the same forcibly against the table when the latter 1s raised; and means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through -mold support; a mold thereon adapted to contain semi-plastic material to be molded; a vertically-movable receptacle to contain asaid conduit to shape and dry an article in said mold.

6. A molding machine, comprising a hydraulic press embodying a cylinder, a plunger movable therein, and a table having a ball-and-socketmounting on the top of the plunger; a rotary arm movable into position to overlie the mold and thereby press the same forcibly against the table when the and means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit to shape and dry an article in said mold. v

7 A pulp-molding-machine, comprising a vat to contain the pulp; 7 unit located at the side of the vat and 1ncluding a mold which is adapted to be sub-' said vat to collect the same thereon when sald unit is swung in one d direction; an element for supporting said merged in the pulp in mold after the latter has been withdrawn from the vat; and means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure into the molld while supported to shape and dry the )u p.

l 8. A pulp-molding machine, comprising a vat to contain the pulp; a swinging mol unit located at the side of the vat and including a mold which is adapted to be submerged in the pulp in the vat when said unit is swung in one direction; means for creating a suction action in said mold to collect the pulp in a layer thereon; an element for supporting the mold after ithas been withdrawn from'the vat; and means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure into the mold while supported to shape and dry the pulp layer.

9. A pulp-molding machine, comprising a vat to contain the pulp; a swinging mol unit located at the side of the vat and including a mold which is adapted to be submerged in the pulp in the vat when saidunit is swung in one direction; means for creating a suction action in said mold to collect the pulp in alayer thereon; an element for supporting the mold after it has been w1thdrawn from the vat; means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure into the mold while supported; and means a fluid into the mold to strip the shaped and dried layer therefrom. '10. A molding machine, press embodying a movable table adapted to support a mold thereon, and provided with a conduit which opens into the interior of the 'mold; means cooperative with the table for pressing the mold forcibly thereagainst under the action of the press; means for forcing a heated fluid body under pressure through said conduit into the mold to shape and dry an article therein; and means for forcing a fluid into said mold to strip the shaped and dried article therefrom.

11. A molding machine, comprising a comprising a heated fluid body; a flexible supply pipe leading from said receptacle to the interior of the mold to discharge the fluid body into the mold to shape and dry the material therein; and means forraising the receptacle to accelerate the flow of its contents to the mold.

12. A molding machine, comprising a mold support; a mold thereon adapted to contain semi-plastic material to be molded; a vertically-movablereceptacle to contain a swinging mold forcing I a heated fluid body; a flexible supply pipe leading from said receptacle to the interior of the mold to discharge the mold to shape and dry thematerial therein; means for delivering a gaseous fluid under pressure into the receptacle to impose pressure on the .contents thereof; and means, for raising said receptacle to ac celerate the flow of its contents to the mold.

13.. A molding machine, comprising a press embodying a table; means for lookinga mold thereon, said table being'provided with a conduit which opens therethrough into the interior of the mold; and means for forcing a heated liquid body through said conduit into the mold to shape and dry a semi-plastic material contained therein.

14. A molding machine, press embodying a table; means-for'locking a mold thereon, J said table being provided with a conduit which opens therethrough v into the interior of the mold; a verticallymovable receptacle to contain a heated fluid body; ,a flexible supply pipe leading from said receptacle to said conduit to discharge the fluid body into the mold to shape and dry a semi-plastic material contained therer in; and means for raising-the receptacle to accelerate the flow of its contents to the mold.-

15. A molding machine, comprising a 4 press embodying a table; means for locking into theinterior a mold thereon,

said table being provided with a conduit which opens 'therethrough of the mold; a verticallymovable receptacle to contain a heated fluid body; a flexible supply pi e leading from said receptacle to said con uit to discharge the-fluid body into the mold to shape and the" fluid body into d comprising a I suction or pressure,

dry a semi-plastic material contained therein; meansfor delivering a gaseous fluid uner pressure into the receptacle to impose pressure on the contents thereof; and means for raising said receptacle to accelerate the flow of its contents to the mold,

16. A pulp-molding machine, comprising a vat to contain the pulp; a pair of forks pivotally mounted adjacent the same; a shaft mounted in the forks; a mold box and contained mold attached to said shaft; the shaft, mold box and forks constituting a swinging unit which is movable to bring the mold box into and out of submerged position in the vat to enable the pulp to collect in a layer on the mold; means for sup orting the mold box when withdrawn from tlle vat;

and means for forcing a heated fluid body into the mold-box to layer.

17. A pulp-molding machine, according to claim 16, in which the fork-carried shaft is hollow and is connected at one end with shape and dry the pulp a source of vacuum; and in which a valve according to which a valve is mounted in said shaft to connect the valve box alternatively with or to. shut off said box from both suction and pressure. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FERNAND FOY.

which the fork-carried shaft is 

